Janesville Police: man and woman hospitalized after ax attack

JANESVILLE--A man and a woman were rushed to the hospital late Saturday with critical injuries from a violent attack near downtown Janesville that police say involved an axe.

Janesville police and Rock County Sheriff’s Deputies are conducting a manhunt for a man who authorities believe hit a man and a woman in the head with an axe at an apartment at 419 Main St., and then ran away on foot, Janesville police Sgt. Jim Holford said.

Police armed with assault weapons were cordoning off a square block around the area of Main Street and Oakland Ave., where a police tactical team was scouring yards on foot searching for the man, who officers said was armed.

The attack happened shortly after 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Police, fire and paramedics rushed to the scene of an apartment, and police found a man and a woman inside. Holford said the man and woman were “alive and conscious” but were bleeding and had serious head injuries.

The man and woman were taken to a Janesville hospital. The extent of their injuries is not known. One of the people injured had at least three serious gashes to the head, according to police scanner traffic.

“We need an ambulance here sooner than later,” one officer said in a radio dispatch.

It’s not clear if the man still was carrying the axe when he fled the scene, and Holford said police believe they know who the man is, but he could not identify the man or the victims pending the manhunt and an investigation. It’s not clear if the man knew either of the victims.

It’s not clear if there were any other witnesses to the apparent attack.

Holford said neighbors are being told to stay indoors and to report any suspicious activities to police or to call 911 if they see anything “unusual.”

Holford said the department would be releasing further details early today.